Although it is a broad discipline, the concept of structural design in civil engineering can be summarized as the exercise of all activities related to the mathematical modeling and analysis of civil structures, such as pipeline supports, foundations, residential buildings, bridges, industrial facilities, energy and maritime infrastructures. .
It is worth mentioning that each of the items above may require the understanding of various mathematical, mechanical and engineering notions. On many occasions, structural designers will need to complete several specialized studies to construct an ideal model.
In reality, and for practical reasons, structural designers are also required to provide material quantifications to deal with building inspectors, prepare a rough budget, and supervise the construction of structures.
Therefore, to some extent, they need to have different skills beyond understanding structure modeling from a mathematical and mechanical perspective.
Activities in a designer engineer job
As we mentioned, the activities carried out by civil engineering designers are very varied. They mainly use tools and software to build a simplified structure. However, there are ways to manually calculate some resistances applied to basic structure joints.
Many of these programs use finite element methods to analyze the structure's response to different forces. Two of the most used software for structure analysis are ETABS and SAAP2000. For dynamic analysis, which is the study of forces that quickly change speed and value and that consequently need to be studied over a period of time, civil engineers use software such as CYPE CAD or MIDAS.
A designer is usually asked to evaluate the feasibility of an architectural model. This means what materials would be needed and whether the structure is financially viable, in addition to possible complicated scenarios during construction from a design point of view.
Furthermore, depending on the nature of the project – planning, design, bidding, construction, etc. – structural engineers will hold meetings to guide and ensure that all conditions for the construction of the structure are being met.
Quickly skip a structural analysis
To simplify the topic a little, a structural analysis takes into account the composition of a structure and the forces to which it is subjected to understand the effects and predict its behavior. All this with the aim of determining the maximum load it can withstand and the useful life before failure.
At the most basic level, structural analysis considers predetermined forces: gravity, live, dead and wind loads, and earthquakes. These loads have a particular effect on the element, said beam, column or slab.
The position and direction of the load also influence the effect on the structure. Some of these forces can cause thrust. Bent elements of certain materials further compromise their useful life. Case in specific elements made of concrete – this material has excellent behavior when subjected to compression, but not to tension.
From a mechanical point of view, there are five types of forces: compression, shear, bending, torsion and tension. The study of these loads is done through four types of analysis: dynamic, static, stability and vibration. The choice of any of them depends on the environmental conditions and the use given to the structure.
As a result of structural design and analysis, civil professionals need to decide whether a material upgrade is necessary to ensure the balance, safety and durability of the building. In extreme cases, or during the first phases of construction, they hold meetings with architects to change dimensions or reposition elements.
Some fields that a structural designer can work in
From planning to construction, designers can choose from a wide portfolio of activities:
Sustainable design and construction
Designers working in sustainable construction employ cutting-edge technology to improve the environmental and social impact of civil projects. Sustainable construction requires putting the conservation of fauna and flora first, in addition to human well-being over construction costs.
Construction Assessment and Inspection
In the last phases of construction, designers are sometimes asked to check reports made by field engineers and go to the construction site. In these reports you will find the materials, dimensions, reinforcement and other details.
They must check that everything matches the plans delivered during the design phase. Although this is not a common task, it is quite necessary at some point. Especially designers working in industrial construction need to go to the field to supervise.
Water infrastructure
Sanitary and hydraulic infrastructure
Sanitary and hydraulic structures are not the same. While sanitary pipes collect waste to dispose of it in places where human health is not harmed, hydraulic projects have a completely different purpose.
Structural hydraulic projects aim to change the flow of water bodies, they can be gutters or dams and both are designed to transport water. A clear hydraulic structure is a dam – this combines energy conservation principles to generate power through the use of a civil structure.
Industrial structural design
The structures used for industrial purposes are airports, warehouses, highways, dams, factories, power plants, among others. As a general rule, industrial infrastructure is usually built to provide a direct product or service.
Industrial infrastructures are characterized by their enormous size and the need to invest large amounts of money. The structural design for the construction of industrial buildings plays a fundamental role in societies and economies – the designer must be aware of factors external to the environment, but also the social impact.
Let's take the example of a large warehouse for storing heavy machinery. In principle, this should be an easy build. And yet, designers must follow a set of rules, such as site temperature and other environmental conditions, to choose materials. The solution provided sometimes required considering tragic scenarios, such as a machine hitting a column. Part of the design analysis must take into account situations like this and ensure that the entire structure does not collapse – at least not immediately.
Housing
This is one of the most common fields. The structural design of housing follows a set of regulations that change depending on the country, climatic conditions, etc. Variables such as earthquakes, dead, alive, snow load and rain are pre-calculated depending on the geographical location of the house.
